Plan Commission approves rental tower near Morgan CTA stop

A 29-story West Loop high-rise slated for 160 N. Morgan Street passed the Chicago Plan Commission updated look. In addition to being four floors shorter than the tower presented to neighbors in May, the final design features new murals on the north side of the building's base. Metal beams supporting the cantilevered upper floors are now Y-shaped and transfer structural loads closer to the podium instead of taking up valuable sidewalk space along Morgan.

Developed by Chicago-based Sterling Bay and designed by local firm bKL Architecture, the 350-foot-tall project will replace a vacant former drive-thru bank building and parking lot located steps from the CTA Green Line stop at Morgan. The transit-oriented development calls for 282 luxury apartments (28 will be set aside as on-site affordable housing), ground-floor retail space, and parking for 89 vehicles.

The project will next head to the Chicago Committee on Zoning and the full City Council for a final vote. If approved, it's unclear when the development team intends to break ground on 160 N. Morgan. Chicago's luxury apartment market has made a remarkable rebound from its pandemic-related lows of 2020 and could potentially face a shortage of new units coming online over the next couple of years. The taller 33-story version of the plan was expected to take roughly 24 months to complete.